"[On February 25, 2016] CMS released proposed updates to the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D programs through the 2017 Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter.... Employer Group Waiver Plans (EGWPs) serve specific employer groups, and are either offered through negotiated arrangements between Medicare Advantage plans and employer groups or by the employer directly. Because of the nature of these unique agreements, EGWPs do not compete against other plans through the bidding process, and therefore have little incentive to submit lower bids. CMS has previously waived bidding requirements for Part D for EGWPs and set payment amounts for Part D plans based on the competitive bids submitted for non-EGWP Part D plans. CMS is proposing a similar waiver and payment policy for EGWP Part C plans for 2017."  MORE >>